5 Ways to Be Motivated & Happy When You Hate Your Job but Can't Quit
5 Ways to Be Motivated & Happy When You Hate Your Job but Can't Quit
By Nukhba Khan
Do you feel like you just want to quit your job? And find work that would be a better fit for your dream lifestyle? But then you look at your financial obligations and realize that that is not an option?
We have all faced the reality of hating our jobs at some point in our life.
For some, work sucks all the time. For others, it sucks most of the time. And then for the few lucky ones, work is only bad sometimes. But everyone experiences a time in their life where they feel trapped in their jobs and would rather be doing something else in their career and life.
If you want to quit your job but can't (or at least not yet), here are the 5 things that can help reignite your motivation at work, help you be happy, and make the best of things.
1. Focus on The Brighter Side
It happens to the best of us; we get so busy hating our jobs that we forget all the good stuff.
Making good things become a more active part of your experience will allow the negative things not to bother you as much. To do this, you need to create your go-to gratitude list that you focus your attention and energy on whenever you start feeling unhappy and demotivated at work.
Let's break your gratitude list into 2 pillars to cover both tangible and intangible rewards that will help you re-find meaning in your work:
FINANCIAL FREEDOM: You are being paid; even if you're not receiving as much money as you would like, you are receiving something! List the great things you can afford because of your work, not what you can't. (Even simple things like having good food, nice clothes, and a house with a roof counts here!)
YOUR TURN: My work gives me the financial freedom to afford 1. ________, 2. ________, and 3. _______.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: You are constantly learning from a) your work relationships; even the bad and quirky ones teach you something. And b) the challenges you face at work are developing your soft skill set. These can include patience, adaptability, time management, conflict resolution. Reflect on how you are growing in all the challenges and hardships you face at work, and list 3 soft skills that are helping you grow.
YOUR TURN: I am proud to be continuously learning at work and bettering myself; I am developing 1. ______, 2 _______, & 3________.
2. Redefine Your Personal Purpose for Work
If you want to be happy at work, you need to find and define your own personal meaning for your work, i.e., why you do the work you do, and it has to be more than getting just a paycheck.
Knowing and keeping the bigger picture top of mind will help you when tasks are unglamorous and things get tough at work.
Your overarching purpose is EXTREMELY PERSONAL (not to confuse it with your organization's mission/purpose statement). It stems from being of service to others. Your service might be to your family, society, the company, and people you are working with, or its service to yourself. Whatever your case may be, it is ultimately how you spread joy to others or yourself or maybe both?
Take a moment to think about what you deeply care about and how your work aligns with this personal priority.
YOUR TURN: The work that I do every day is helping me serve ____________________, and this gives rich meaning and fulfillment in my life and in the work I do daily.
3. Know Your Future
Now let's get even more real. If you wake up miserable every day because of work and feel that you are wasting your life, then it is time for you to pause, think, get creative, and PLAN.
It is easy to get stuck in the rut of hating your life because of your job, but you must pull yourself out of it. One of the best and most productive ways to do that is defining and mapping out your 1, 3, 5, 10-year career plan. This plan can even be an outline of ideas, thoughts, or desires.
Redirecting your focus on opportunities and having a game plan (even if it's a rough one!) can get you feeling motivated, positive, and determined. It is something to look forward to, and it makes you hopeful. You might even realize the importance of your current job to reach your 5 or 10-year career and financial goal, which can help you turn back on the love and motivation for a job you currently hate.
YOUR TURN: Outline your 1, 3, 5, 10-year career and financial plan. You can be as brief or as detailed as you like, but you have to create a sense of direction in your work and life to help you keep motivated.
4. Must Avoid to Keep it Together at Work
You have to stop bringing your work misery home after work. This is harmful not only for you but for your family too.
You have to learn to switch off from work. And an end-of-work habit can help you do that.
This specific exercise shifts your mental and emotional energy to feel more relaxed and at home.
For me, this is making a cup of herbal tea to send my brain the signal that it's time to switch off my work brain and be present at home.
Another great end-of-work routine is to work out. Work-outs are an excellent way to elevate the mood.
YOUR TURN: What is the end-of-work habit that you can start today?
Want to learn other really cool techniques to help you switch off work thoughts after work? Learn more by clicking here
5. Must-Do to Keep it Together at Work
You know that thing you love doing, but you never have enough time or energy for it? Well, now is the time to force yourself to get back into it. Take the time to spend time doing the things you love, even if it's for an hour each day.
This will help you light up your mood because, honestly, the world can start feeling quite dark when you hate work. And when you are feeling happy, it allows you to carry some of that good energy into your work-life and helps make your job a little less miserable.
YOUR TURN: What is that passion of yours that you love but have not been able to make time for? Decide what that activity is that you love doing and schedule it in your calendar, pronto!
Final Thoughts
Life is short, and you absolutely cannot afford to waste it being miserable at work. That is an injustice to yourself.
You have to find ways to make your work-life better. Take baby steps or big, bold steps. The point is to take responsibility and commit to doing something about the thing that is making you unhappy.
To help you further here is a free guide 5-Steps to Become Happier at Work
I hope you make that commitment today and download this guide and get started in becoming a happier YOU!
Cheering for you!
MEET NUKHBA
Hey there, I am Nukhba, a Life Transformation Coach and Mindset Mentor.
I coach women in high-demand careers how to tackle and better manage their work stressors and self-doubts so they can confidently start to enjoy work and restore a sense of calm in their lives.
I know too well that if your work-life is not a happy place, it becomes challenging to be content outside of work also, and chances are you start to hate your life.
I believe we all have the power to live life with more ease and joy.
This blog serves as a space for all things balance, personal empowerment, upgrading habits & beliefs, happier lifestyle and more.